In an effort to curb the confusion that permeates the wireless industry, Sprint announced a new “All-In” plan that aims to make it as clear as possible for customers which services they’re getting for $80 a month. The problem is, Sprint’s plan isn’t all that easy to understand.
The All-In plan is comprised of two separate plans: a $60 a month plan that gives customers unlimited talk, text, and data, as well as a $20-a-month plan that allows you to lease a smartphone. In order to get the All-In plan, customers would pay $0 down and a one-time, $36 activation fee.
Updated on 07-01-2015 by Malarie Gokey: Added news that Sprint has now removed the video-streaming speed restriction, in light of customer feedback.
Initially, Sprint planned to limit data speeds to 600kbps for customers who used it to stream video, but the carrier was forced to change its tune when customers protested. Now, video streaming speeds will not be limited, though Sprint reserves the right to slow data speeds when the network is being overtaxed.
“At Sprint, we strive to provide customers a great experience when using our network. We heard you loud and clear, and we are removing the 600 kbps limitation on streaming video,” Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure said. “During certain times, like other wireless carriers, we might have to manage the network in order to reduce congestion and provide a better customer experience for the majority of our customers.”
Unfortunately for Sprint, the lack of clarity over video streaming speeds, is just one of the confusing points of its new plan. If you just watched the commercial featuring David Beckham, you wouldn’t know any of the details unless you pause it at certain points and look at the finer points. In the commercial, Beckham walks into T-Mobile, AT&T, and Verizon in the hopes of getting a clear-cut wireless plan. He doesn’t get that, so he walks into a Sprint store and finally gets what he wants.
“So when they walk into our store or visit our website, they will see that $80 includes a smartphone and an unlimited plan to do most of the important things they are going to do with the phone for an entire month: make calls, watch videos, listen to music, text a friend — you name it,” said Claure.
Claure’s statement brings up another issue with the All-In plan: if Sprint really wanted to go all-in with this plan, it would have included taxes and other fees, much like AT&T’s Cricket plans do. The last issue involves Sprint advertising unlimited data with the All-In plan when it plans to either increase the price of such plans or eliminate them altogether.
You can purchase the All-In plan through Sprint stores and Sprint’s dedicated online portal, but, as always, make sure to take a close look at the details.
